So, it began, or I should say continued. Another backpack hunt lay in front of us. This particular area has held a meaningful part in my heart for years. It is where I took my first archery deer and a place I have spent a good portion of my Dec/Jan archery deer seasons in the past. What the next few days would hold, we did not know. I did know that we would have a great time though chasing rutting bucks. On top of that, I had been seeing a herd of javelina regularly in the area. Lucky for us, Jake had a tag in his pocket.
January in Arizona has become a time of year that I cherish to the upmost. While everyone else around the country is reflecting on their past fall hunting seasons and warming themselves by a fire, I am usually out hiking around with a camp on my back in search of rutting bucks. The weather is beautiful, the deer are moving, and it’s just a great time to be out and about in our Arizona desert. My brother Jake and I usually take the first week or so in January to chase mule deer and coues deer with our bows. This year though, Jake drew an archery javelina tag, so that was on the menu as well. 8 days of backcountry hunting was in front of us and our arms were wide open.
As I sit here and write this, most of the year is in the rear view mirror and 2019 is looming in the distance ahead. Another year gone and another one upon us, just like that. Looking back at the past year, I am so proud of what I and the ones I love accomplished. I succeeded in harvesting my first archery black bear. Something that I have been working towards for years. My wife has been full time with her photography business (http://www.pmaphotography.com) for a full year. Watching her quit her job and lay it on the line is nothing short of inspiring to me to chase my goals.
When this comes out, our archery deer seasons here in Arizona will have started. This is definitely one of my favorite hunts of the year and a time where I get to spend a great deal of time backpack hunting here in the desert. Chasing rutting mule deer and coues deer with a bow is a perfect way to spend the month of January if you ask me. So, right now my brain is going a mile a minute trying to decide where I want to go, planning scouting trips, researching water, etc. The feelings that we have before a hunt can sometimes drive one mad. We relive moments of past hunts over and over again in our minds and inevitably head into our seasons with those experiences almost expected. The expectations of a future hunt does indeed motivate us and fuel the fire, but it can also work against us.
I recently did a flight test video comparing the flight of a Grim Reaper Micro Hades Pro 125 grain broadhead to that of a 125 grain Field Point. I was both surprised and excited about the results. This was not only my first time ever shooting this broadhead, but shooting a fixed blade broadhead in general. I’ve always used a Grave Digger Broadhead, which is a hybrid head. I started shooting at 40 yards and then eventually backed up to 80 yards. Each time shooting a group with my field points and then a group with the broadheads. Give it a look and let me know what you think down below!
Pick up some Grim Reaper Micro Hades Pro broadheads at the link below!
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Luck is one of those words that get thrown around in the hunting world quite a bit. I remember being a kid, in deer camp with my Dad, and him saying something along the lines of “Just give us some luck.” A little luck goes a long way right? While that is true, as I got older I realized that it wasn’t absolute. If we only relied on luck, I feel like we would never be successful out there filling tags. Putting yourself in the position to experience that luck is what it’s all about. By that, I mean putting in the work beforehand. Luck does go a long way, but hard work goes farther if you ask me.
2018 has been absolutely jam packed with awesome hunts! I started off in January with archery deer season. From there, we drifted into spring bear for a few months, which then led into fall bear, deer, and elk. Through that time I not only made some incredible memories, but got to test out lots of gear! With the holidays coming on fast, I thought it might be a good time to highlight some of my favorite gear items of the year. Maybe you can convince your significant others to put some of these under the tree for you this year. These are in no particular order.
First thing in the morning, I had 2 very good friends show up to help track down the bull elk. I couldn’t have been more grateful for them donating their Saturday to me. When you find good hunting partners, hold on for dear life. They are far and few. We made our way over to the scene of the crime and got on blood right away. After 500 yards of tracking, the blood came fewer and farther between. With hard work though, we kept pushing forward finding a drop here and a drop there. We followed the bull’s tracks for a great deal of the way, which led us to more blood. After almost a mile and 6 hours later though, I came to the conclusion that I didn’t kill that bull. This is the part of bowhunting, and hunting for that matter, that nobody likes. If you do this long enough though, it is bound to happen. I practice shooting my bow all year long and still things happen. What actually happened though wouldn’t hit me until the next morning though.
There is a part of me that would want to start this story out the day I arrived in elk camp this year here in Arizona. However, it just doesn’t start there. The area that I drew my tag in has become one of the most special places to me. I frequent it year round and have had many firsts come to life right in those very hills. The first time I ever saw an elk bugle happened right there. I remember him trotting and bugling at the same time. Like he was trying to assert his dominance over the herd. The first deer I ever took the life from happened 300 yards away from that. It was a coues spike that meant the world to me. Not a mile away from that, I wrapped my tag around my first bear. An experience that lit a fire under me that still burns bright today. Now, it was my turn to try my hand at elk hunting in these hills that I’ve called a second home.
Success or successful are words that get thrown around a lot in the hunting world. You hear it all of the time when folks are telling hunting stories or talk of hunts that have yet to come. “Were you successful? Did you find success?” I think the first thing that most think of when they hear this is filling a tag. That is what equates success on a hunt. Maybe, on the surface. There is much more to it though. As we dive into another fall hunting season, let’s dive below that surface a bit and remember why we are out there.
Copyright 2019 Dialed In Hunter
Design by NXNW.
